NY 2017

Well, let me congratulate all FB gamers: May the New Year brings new hopes and new reasons to play our game!

It seems that during this year turbulent times we got some interesting & promising  facts: Specialist Games (Blood Bowl), Warhammer Total War!

But still GW behaved badly and they will not get their gifts!

& let's not forget about The 9th Age!

DH roster v.1.3

As stout as any dwarf player I wish not to change my current roster greatly but as there are some points changes I have to calculate it one more time. The Banner of Shielding is come back again as well as Aether Icon; as for monster hunting I choose to add some 'old school' firepower - ballista & organ gun with engineer. ALSO there are 2! Flame cannons!

Dwarf Holds - 4494

Characters [max 40%] 1355 - 30,11%
King (General) 230, Great weapon 20, Shield Bearers 120, Rune of Iron 20, 3*Rune of Shielding 90 = 480
Dragon Seeker 220, Monster Seeker 60, Rune of Precision 40, Rune of Quickening 40, Rune of Smashing 40 = 400
Thane 120, BSB 50, Aether Icon 55, Aether Loathestone 30, Shield 16, 2*Rune of Iron 40 =311
Engineer 140, Shield 4, Forge Repeater 20 = 164

Core [at least 25%) 1314 - 29,2%
28 Greybeards 576, FCG 60, Great weapon 168 = 804
10 Greybeards 180, shield 20, throwing weapons 40, Vanguard 20 = 260
10 Marksmen 210, Guild-crafted Handguns 40 = 250 [count towards the Clan's Thunder ]

Special [no limit] 1020 - 22,66%
18 Deepwatch 414, FCG 60, Runic Standard of Shielding 80 = 554
9 Seekers 198, Champion 20, Skirmish 18= 236
10 Miners 180, Pistols 50 = 230 [count towards the Clan's Thunder]

Engines of War [max 20%] 805 - 17,88%
Flame Cannon 130, Rune Crafted 40 = 170
Flame Cannon 130, Rune Crafted 40 = 170
Ballista 120, Rune Crafted 20 = 140
Organ Gun 280, Rune Crafted 45 = 325

A Tale of Several Gamers

A unit of 10 dwarf handgunners.

First ones of my 10 strong unit of
miners with hand weapon & pistols.

The 9th Age

Several month ago I posted my own vision of t9A timeline. Let's see how much of that we will see in the official source...
Timeline of the 9th Age - My vision!

BS - before Sunna
AS - Age of Sunna

about 200 000 000 years ago - During this period, the greatcontinent broke up into the northern supercontinent and the southern supercontinent. The Land was dominated by archosaurian reptiles.
about 70 000 000 years ago - A massive comet or asteroid impact, it was followed by impact winter & the ice age. All life forms are concentrated in the South.
about 3 000 000 years ago - The earliest evidence of the existence of bipedal proto-saurians (Saur-habilis, Saur-erectus, Saur-sapiens) & trolls.
about 15 000 years ago - The emergence of the first Cuatls & Dragons.
about 10 000 years ago - The Demiurges race arrives on Earth & begins the reshaping of the world.
about 10 000 years ago - The 1st Age ("The Age of Creation").
The foundation of the City of Gold & the creation of the Cradle of Birth by the Demiurgs.
Demiurgs begin to exert control over the various species of the world, bending them to their will and in some cases reshaping their forms.
The emergence of greenskins (Orcs & Goblins).
The armies of greenskins, created by Demiurgs, begin the conquest of the world. First wars with native Saurians.
Demiurgs split the world into the separate continents whose geography is similar to what they look like today. The pattern of the continents have been copied from the many worlds influenced by the Demiurgs across the universe.
The Green Rebellion. The greenskins revolt & scatter all over the globe.
Demiurgs experiment further, bending the primordial intelligent races of the world to new and different shapes. Giants, Elves, Dwarfs, Humans, Halflings & Ogres are created. "The unsuccessful attempts" cast out into the wild world (Vermin Swarms)
about 7000 years ago - The Great Catastrophe. The Cradle of Birth is stolen by unknown. The huge burst of a mysterious energy twists everything it comes to a contact . The City of Gold is consumed by the great vortex. Some unlucky inhabitants of the nearby area are changed, the emergence of beastmen & other half-breeds (griffons, manticores, centaurs). The Dark Gods gain access to our world.
about 6000 years ago - The 2nd Age ("The Age of the Long Night")
The daemons of the Dark Gods are waging war with intelligent species of the world. Millions are killed.
The survivors are sneeking in wilderness & warring amongst themselves and with feral greenskin tribes for a shelter.
The dwarfs build their first citadels in mountains. The foundation of the Cult of the Ancestors.
Some elves are welcomed by the sylvan spirits in their sacred groves (Sylvan Elves).
about 5000 years ago - The 3rd Age ("The Age of the Dragons")
Saurians muster the largest armies ever assembled to combat the dark hordes; they unite with elven & dwarf clans against common enemy.
Dragons take part in the War.
The Aliance is victorious & all daemonic armies are wiped into another dimension.
-4812 - 3914 BS - The 4th Age ("The Golden Age")
Dwarfs settle in all major mountain systems all over the world.
Elves take on themselves the mission to protect this world from the menace of the Dark Gods. The foundation of the Highborn kingdoms.
First encounters with feral human, ogre & halfling tribes.
Dragons become dormant & dissapear in the most secluded places of the world.
All contacts between the Saurians and the warm-blooded are broken.
-3913 - 3018 BS - The 5th Age ("The Age of Strife")
Dwarfs haunted by the sence of the racial memory establish The Cult of Seekers, their main goal is to reach the Golden City and to find out the fate of the Ancestor Gods (or to bring back some of its treasures). The cult followers are the dishonored dwarfs as for the others the task seems to be suicidal.
Elves believe that it is foolhardly to disturb the Dark Lands. Tensions rise between the Dwarfs and the Elves.
Elven bastions are under full scale daemonic invasion. Some elven lords make pacts with the dark deities (Dread Elves).
Contact is lost with the Dwarf settlements in the Wasteland & Dark Lands, they are believed to have been destroyed by elves.
​(-3453 - 3337 BS) - Hundred Years' War between Dwarfs & Elves.
Several dwarf clans are consumed by bitterness and greed and pledge their power & souls to darkness (Infernal Dwarfs).
-3017 - 2001 BS - The 6th Age ("The Silver Age")
The foundation of the first human kingdom of Naptesh.
Dwarfs intensify trade with primitive human and ogre tribes.
The dwarfs of the Far East find a secret of gunpowder.
-2000 - 667 BS - The 7th Age ("The Age of the Thousand Kingdoms")
Dwarfs Engineers Guild is established.
Several human tribes found their own kingdoms.
The power of The Dark Gods slowly grows greater. They found followers all over the Dark Lands and beyond.
The Great Dying of Naptesh. The Birth of Vampires.
-666 - 1 BS - The 8th Age ("The Age of Blood")
The rebirth of the first Daemon Prince.
The Great Vortex expand. Daemonic Legions broke free once more. At the forefront of the Incursion are the mortal followers of the Dark Gods.
Dwarfs find out that their dark cousins teachings take root in some of their settlements. The tradidionalist blame the guild of engineers.
The Great Underground War. Traditionalist dwarfs fight inventors & dark cultists alike. Vermins & greenskins take advantage of the situations and attack dwarven holds all over the world.
The Fall, elven cultists open secret routs for their dark masters armies; the elven realms are in flames of the war on all fronts.
0 - 2017 AS - The 9th Age ("The Age of Sunna")
1 AS - The Birth of Sunna.

A Tale of Several Gamers

Recently we started a new series of articles (something like "A Tale of Four Gamers" in White Dwarf mag), the rules are pretty simple:

• choose an army (roster of 4500pts);
• you can use any miniature of any company/copies acceptible;
• convert/paint and publish it every week... 

At the moment there are 5 participants:

1. Porw / Dwarf Holds
2. Shinymetallass / Saurian Ancients
3. BigFatCat19 / Orcs & Goblins
4. yoshi / Dread Elves
5. flam / Empire of Sonnstahl

Dwarf King with great weapon
& shieldbearers.

Dragon Seeker with runic
additional hand weapon.

The Anvil of Power. (in process).

Let's talk about Rangers...Dwarf Rangers

I allways loved dwarf rangers, they are number two of my favorite unit list (ironbreakers/deep watch are #1). But how can I use them in The 9th Age... Talking with different dwarf players I came to a view of suicide squad or diverting unit, but recently I changed my mind due to explanations of our dwarf-comrade Tim"FavCrusher"Bargmann (2nd place in a Masters warm-up, ETC).
I think Rangers are one of our best units we have. @FavCrusher 

Let's look at the dwarf rangers more closely (v.1.2.2):
- they are expensive;
- they are no way cc specialists (WS4, S3, A1) on they own;
- they've got best BS in our army, but still only 4 and the choice of xbows or th.weapons for that matter...

Roster Dwarf Holds v.1.2.2

Recently the 9th Age v1.2 has absorbed most o my gaming attention. It is currently in the process of the separation from the WHFB in every aspect of the game but the core ones, from magic lores to armies restrictions and point costs. Not so sure I'm glad to this fact but here is my new roster for the DH army:

Dwarf Holds - 4500

Characters [max 35%] 1536 - 34,1%

• King (General) 230, Great weapon 20, Shield Bearers 120, Rune of Iron 20, 3*Rune of Shielding 90 = 480
• Dragon Seeker 220, Monster Seeker 60, Rune of Quickening 40, Rune of Smashing 70 = 390
• Thane 120, BSB 50, Hold Stone 50, Shield 16, Runic Standard of Shielding 90, 2*Rune of Iron 40 = 366
• Anvil of Power 200, Rune of Shattering 50, Rune of Storms 50, Rune of Reckoning (free) = 300

Core [at least 25%) 1324 - 29,4%

• 28 Greybeards 576, FCG 60, Great weapon 168 = 804
• 10 Greybeards 180, shield 20, throwing weapons 40, Vanguard 20 = 260
• 10 Marksmen 220, Guild-crafted Handguns 40 = 260 [count towards the Clan's Thunder ]

Special [no limit] 1150 - 25,5%

• 18 Deepwatch 444, FCG 60 = 304
• 9 Seekers 198, Champion 20, Skirmish 18 = 236
• 15 Miners 280, Champion 20, Great weapon 60 = 360
• 10 Miners 180, Musician 20, Pistol 50 = 250 [count towards the Clan's Thunder]

Engines of War [max 20%] 490 - 10,8%

• Flame Cannon 130, Rune Crafted 40 = 170
• Flame Cannon 130, Rune Crafted 40 = 170
• Ballista 120, Rune Crafted 20, Flaming Shot 10 = 150

Norngard dwarf throng

First of all I have to choose colours & 'emblems' for this new army, being a space wolves fan for a while I prefer not bright theme: light blue/grey/dark metal & bronze.

My first unit of King's guard.

ETC 2016

The European Team Championships (ETC) is one of the biggest wargaming tournaments in the world. Each year teams from nations all over the world gather in a different country to battle it out. Not only is this an opportunity for the players to test their skill, but also to meet friends from other countries and to have a good time. The team aspect of the tournament is one of the main reasons for its popularity, allowing for more intricate tactics over several games and for camaraderie within the team. 576 games were played in just three days and before that a lot of practice games!

The ETC is a tournament for several games: Warhammer 40k, Kings of War, Flames of War, X-Wing and, this year for the first time, Fantasy Battles: The 9th Age!

And this year winners is Team Italy! 

Infernal Dwarves

Overlord on Great Bull of Shamut: general, Ring of Dessication, Onyx Hammer, Divine Icon, Lucky Shield, 515

Vizier: BSB, Aether Icon, Crown of Scorn, 160

1 x 30 Citadel Guard: FCG, Veteran Standard Bearer with Banner of Nezibkesh, 390

2 x 10 Infernal Warrior: Standard Bearer, 75

1 x 10 Infernal Warrior: Standard Bearer, Musician, 85

2 x 5 Kadim Incarnates: Champion, Fly, 295

2 x 19 Disciples of Lugar: Champion, Musician, Great Weapon, 305

Total: 2500

Ogre Khans

Great Khan: general, Hellfist, Mark True Chaos, Dragonscale Helm, Sprout of Rebirth, Potion of Strength, 313

Khan: BSB, Mark True Chaos, 133

Shaman: Lv2 Fire, Mark True Chaos, Great Weapon, Dispel Scroll, 174

Shaman: Lv1 Fire, Mark True Chaos, Great Weapon, Tome of Arcane Lore, 129

3 x 3 Tribesmen:  75

1 x 9 Tribesmen: FCG, Mark Pestilence, Iron Fist, Heavy Armour, Veteran Magic Standard Banner of Discipline, 427

2 x 6 Bombardiers: Standard, Musician, Mark Change, 278

1 x 5 Bombardiers: Standard, Musician, Mark Change, 235

2 x 1 Thunder Cannon: Mark Change, 154

Total: 2500

Dwarven Holds

Dwarf King on Throne of War: general, Rune of Destruction, Rune of Smashing, Rune of Fury, Shield, 385

Runic Master: Rune of Gleaming, Rune of Resilience, Rune of of Metal, Rune of Reckoning, Rune of Mastery, Rune of Brilliance, Rune of Harnessing, Rune of Iron x2, Shield, 268

Thane: BSB, Runic Standard of Swiftness, Rune of Iron, Rune of Dragon’s Breath, Shield, 173

Runic Smith: Rune of Gleaming, Rune of Resilience, Rune of Denial, Rune of Harnessing, Shield, 142

1 x 30 Greybeards: FCG, shield, 370

1 x 10 Clan warriors: musician standard, shield, veteran standard bearer Gleaming Icon, 95

1 x 10 Clan warriors: musician, shield, 80

1 x 10 Clan warriors: musician, vanguard, 80

1 x 28 Deep Watch: FCG, shield, Runic Standard of Dismay, 440

1 x 1 Steam Copters, 75

2 x 1 Cannon, Engineering Rune, 115

1 x 1 Anvil of Power: Rune of Storms, Rune of Shattering, Rune of Resolve, 160

Total: 2498

Highborn Elves

Archmage on Elven Horse: Lvmagic level 3, Path of Wilderness, Dispel Scroll, 240

Commander on Sky Sloop: general,  Storm Pennant, Fleet Officer, Light Lance, Shield, Armour of Destiny, 307

Commander on Sky Sloop: BSB Fleet Officer, Dragonforged Armour, Light Lance, Shield, Talisman of Supreme Shielding, 304

Commander on Sky Sloop: Storm Pennant, Fleet Officer, Dragonforged Armour, Shield, Sprout of Rebirth,  314

2 x 5 Elein Reavers: 85 x2

1 x 6 Highborn Lancers: Musician, Standard, 133

1 x 7 Highborn Lancers: Musician, Standard Veteran Standard Bearer Flaming Standard, 171

1 x 7 Highborn Lancers: Musician, Standard, 151

2 x 1 Lion Chariot: 100

2 x 1 Giant Eagle: 50

3 x 1 Sea Guard Reaper: Repeating Shot, 80

1 x 1 Sky Sloop: Storm Pennant, 170

Total: 2500

Empire of Sonnstahl

Prelate on Altar of Battle: general, Barding, Hardened Shield, Dusk Stone, Locket of Sunna, 345

Captain: BSB, Great Weapon, Mithril Mail, 114

Wizard: Lv2, Heavens, Dispel Scroll, 125

Wizard: Lv2, Heavens, Tome of Arcane Lore, 105

Artificer: 55

Artificer: 55

2 x 5 Electoral Cavalry: Standard, Musician, Lance, Shield, 120

2 x 10 State Militia: 40

1 x 10 State Militia: Skirmishers, 50

1 x 40 Heavy Infantry: FCG, Halberds, Veteran Magic Standard, Banner of Courage, 255

2 x 1 Artillery: Cannon, 100

1 x 35 Imperial Guard: FCG, Rending Banner, 365

1 x 1 Arcane Engine: Arcane Shield, 140

1 x 1 Arcane Engine: Foreseeing, 140

1 x 1 Steam Tank: 230

Total: 2499

Undying Dynasties

Death Cult Hierarch: Lv4, Sand, Hierophant, Soul Conduit, Book of the Dead, 300

Nomarch: General, Great Weapon, Aspen Bow, Crown of the Pharaons, Dragonfire Gem, 159

Tomb Harbringer: Paired Weapons, Mithril Mail, Potion of Swiftness, Lucky Charm, 108

Tomb Harbringer: BSB, Armour of Eternities, Brooch of the Sun, shield, 148

Death Cult Acolyte: Lv2, Sand, Dispel Scroll, 125

Tomb Architect: 50

1 x 30 Skeleton Archers: FCG, 210

2 x 19 Skeleton Archers: FCG, 144

2 x 5 Skeleton Cavalry: Aspen Bow, 65

1 x 32 Necropolis Guard: FCG, Paired Weapons, Holy Icon, 404

1 x 5 Winged Reapers: Paired Weapons, 396

2 x 1 Charnel Catapult: 90

Total: 2498

Vampire Covenant

Vampire courtier: general, Strigoi Bloodline, Halberd, Tullius' Teeth, 165

Vampire courtier: BSB, Lv1, Necromancy, Strigoi Bloodline, King Slayer, Dragonfire Gem, 195

Necromancer on Cadaver wagon: Lv1, Necromancy, Endless Horde, Bring Out Your Dead, Tome of Arcane Lore, 160

Necromancer: Lv2, Necromancy, Unholy Tome, 125

Necromancer: Lv2, Necromancy, Dispell Scroll, 125

2 x 20 Zombie: Musician, Standard Bearer, 75

3 x 2 Bat Swarm: 60

1 x 45 Skeletons: FCG, Halberd, Veteran Magic Standard,  Flaming Standard, 300

1 x 38 Barrow Guard: FCG, Halberd, Banner of the Barrows Kings, 471

2 x 2 Great Bats: 40

1 x 4 Winged Reapers: Paired Weapons, 319pts

1 x 1 Altar of Undeath: Dark Tome, 230

Total: 2500

The Vermin Swarm

Magisteron on Doom Bell: general, Lv4, Ruin, dispel scroll, Dragonfire gem, 440

Tyrant: the doom blade, 180

Chief: BSB, the lighting rod, halberd,119

Chief: dark shard brew, halberd, 69

Sicarra Assassin: multiple wound(D3), tail weapon, potion of strength, mithril mail, 180

Plague Prophet on Plague Pendolum: Putrid Plate, Fleshrender, lucky charm, 260

1 x 15 Plague Brotherhood: musician, standard bearer, 100

1 x 34 Plague Brotherhood: musician, standard bearer, plague ridden, 248

1 x 38 Vermin Guard: musician, veteran standard bearer, rending banner, 334

2 x 2 Rat Swarm: 40 x2

2 x 5 Gutter Blades: poisoned attacks, scout & ambush, 85

1 x 2 Thunder Hulks: 150

2 x 1 Verminous Artillery: Lighting Cannon, 85

Total: 2500

The 9th Age

http://www.the-ninth-age.com/

This year was very strange one. No one expected that GW will annihilate Warhammer FB once and for all and Age of Sigmar...well, it is no way the game we loved so much. The good news were the beginning of the development of an alternative version of the game and the fact that ETC decided to support fan-movement - The 9th Age has become real.

And turning my attention towards this setting I was thinking of rather stay true to my Dwarf force or try something different: Beastmen (Beast Herds) or Estalia (using rules for Empire of Sonnstahl).

At first I tried to make some rosters to find out what I was going to collect & play. So here is a deal:

Dwarf Holds - 2500

Lords = 470

King (General) 135, Great weapon 10, Shield Bearers 50, Rune of Iron 10, 3*Rune of Shielding 45 = 250

Daemon Seeker 130, Grim Resolve 40, Monster Seeker 30, Rune of Quickening 20 = 220

Heroes = 300

Thane 70, BSB 25, Hold Stone 25, Shield 8, 2*Rune of Shielding 30 = 158

Runic Smith 70, Shield 2, Rune of the Forge 5, Rune of Denial 35, 2*Rune of Iron 20, Battle runes (Oath, Resilience) 10 = 142

Core = 642

28 Greybeards 288, FCG 30, Great weapon 84 = 402

10 Greybeards 90, shield 10, throwing weapons 20 = 120

10 Greybeards 90, shield 10, throwing weapons 20 = 120

Special = 1087

18 Deepwatch 230, FCG 30 = 260

9 Seekers 99, Champion 10, Skirmish 18 = 127

20 Miners 190, Standard 10, Great weapon 40 = 240

20 Miners 190, Standard 10, Great weapon 40 = 240

Cannon 100, Engineering runes 15 = 115

Catapult 90, Engineering runes 15 = 105

2499 pts

About Me

Greetings. My name is Artem Parshenkov, I live in Moscow, Russia, and I am a gamer. At the time of writing this I am 32 years old and have been collecting Warhammer for about 18 years. At times I addict with other games, such as Blood Bowl / Mordheim / Warhammer 40k / BFG / Infinity / Dystopian Wars and Battletech. I also play PC games: Dark Omen, Final Liberation, Chaos Gate, Blood Bowl, Warhammer Online (AoR), Space Marine, Total War. As Games Workshop doesn't support Warhammer FB anymore and Age of Sigmar doesn't hold any appeal for me, I consider the 9th Age as most promising alternative. This blog will likely be focused on that two game systems (WhFB & the 9th Age).